Should i fix my car or get a new one?

Question

I drive a 1989 Chevy Celebrity. The head gasket is cracked and i'm told its going to cost about $800 to fix it (parts/labor) My mechanic said he's never seen anythingl ike it..i guess i have a unique problem.. I paid $500 for the car when i got it and other than that it pretty much works fine. I started leaking coolant awhile ago and paid $200 for it to get fixed then the Head gasket cracked (gonna cost $800 as previously stated). i'm wondering if there are any mechanics out there who could give me a recomendation on wether the car is worth paying the $800 for or if i shouold get a new 1...the only other thing i have to say is my big dilemma....

1. If i pay to get it fixed for $800 and something else breaks, i just spent A LOT of money on a car thats not worth it and will have to spend more.

2. If i buy a new car (probably for about $800 give or take a few hundred) , it could run fine and then something could go wrong and i would need to pay for that car to get fixed.

So either way i have the problem that i could end up spending a lot o a car thats not worth it. any good recomendations? I would prefer from and type of auto expert.

I'm not too sure of the cars history, i bought it used. I believe it has about 80,000 miles on it right now (not exactly sure of milage casuse its sitting at the mechanics waiting for me to tell him what to do with it)

Oh and i've had the car since about Sept. 06 so not all that long. and i'm not looking to buy a NEW car, just another used one that will last me about a year at least, so if i do end up getting rid of this car, what should i look for? my price range is less than $1000...and if my location help i'm in eastern PA (Lehigh)

Answer 1

I'm not a mechanic but I do know if the head gasket goes, especially on such an old car....get a new one. It isn't worth replacing.

Answer 2

How many miles are on the car?
Think about it this way, if you replace the head gasket for $800 and drive it for at least 4 months, you basically put $200 per month into it. A cheap car payment.
If you buy another car for around the same price, you may have more problems with it. How long have you had the Celebrity? Do you know more of the history of it?



Good Luck!

Answer 3

If the car is generally in good shape, I would go ahead and fix it given your present budget for a new car. You might look online to say "craigslist" and find a mobile mechanic or a shade tree mechanic who could do that for a few bucks less.

Let me say this however. If the car is falling appart in general, then don't fix it. If the brakes are good, tires are good, alternator, water pump...generally ok..then keep it. But if you are going to have to drop 1500 in this over the next year to keep it running, get another beater and move on.

be well -p

Answer 4

Do the math. The car is 17 plus years old, you probably don't have insurance on it and can't afford to pay the damages if you are in an accident. JUNK IT and walk or take a bus to work until you can afford something reliable and pay for insurance. You can't buy a NEW car for $800!

Answer 5

i own a repair shop and i think the intelligent thing here would be to do is sell this car and buy another one,your right its not worth putting the money in to ,if it lasted for about two years after it was repaired then you could probably drive your moneys worth out of it,but i doubt that is going to be all the problems you will have from it,so if it were me,id just sell it like it is and find another vehicle,maybe a little newer one,that would need less repairs,and give better service also,good luck i hope this helps.

Answer 6

What you may ask your self is; what's this going to fee you in the tip? you're watching a $2400 fix for a first rate motor vehicle with in user-friendly terms eighty,000 and relativly extra moderen variety. after it particularly is complete that is going to in all probability be wonderful and pushed effortlessly for a jointly as till you're looking extra to be incorrect. whether you bought it as is, you may get at maximum $2000 for the motor vehicle. so in case you're taking the 2400 and 2000 you have 4400 to spend on a clean used motor vehicle. A $4400 motor vehicle isn't the superb in the international. you're wanting to purchase a older variety, ninety 8 or older, with larger mileage. as that stands, you're watching issues even quicker back inclusive of your new used motor vehicle, and for this reason going to could spend extra money fixing that, considering the fact which you will under no circumstances purchase a used motor vehicle with no need to repair something. So, i might say fix the motor vehicle on your 2400, and be carried out with money. this is the superb difficulty, not extra money. so, reckoning on what your month-to-month charge grew to become into, you may nevertheless be saving extra money by technique of repairing it. ask your self how lots have you ever stored because of the fact the money have been complete, does it outweigh what the upkeep would be? in basic terms what i think of could be carried out.

Answer 7

$800.00 for a head gasket job??? Maybe if you need a new head, too. Well...no, not even for 2 new heads, and junkyard heads at that. Maybe you need a new mechanic instead. Or maybe you should just buy a better car.

Answer 8

Get another car, the best that you can afford. Check out the cars that rate the best if you want one that lasts a long time. Otherwise, do like me and just buy the one that strikes your fancy! lol

Answer 9

go for a new car i have had cars i paid 500 for and ran for a few years take the gamble you may get a good one.

Answer 10

Get a new car! It would impress your friends. And, your old car probably isn't the best looking :).